DAPPER Don Christy Kinahan was nowhere to be seen at the funeral of his estranged wife in Dublin.

The exiled drugs lord was conspicuous by his absence as his family paid their respects at the Augustinian Church in Dublin's south inner city.

While some of his closest criminal associates travelled from afar, the notorious mob boss was nowhere to be seen.

Armed detectives discreetly monitored proceedings at yesterday’s funeral which was attended by the former couple's sons Daniel and Christy Jnr.

Daniel was among the mourners who helped carry his mother’s coffin.

Both sons live in Spain along with their father where – like Christy Snr – they are under investigation having previously been arrested by authorities there over their alleged multi-million euro crime empire.

A massive gathering of family, friends and neighbours from the south inner-city gathered to pay their respects to Jean Boylan who died last Friday after a short illness.

She was remembered as a woman who was the “innocent victim of a terrible disease”, but her criminal ex-husband was nowhere to be seen.

When the names of chief mourners were mentioned at the beginning of the requiem Mass in the historic and beautiful Augustinian Church on John's Lane, Thomas Street, there was no mention of Christy Snr.

The former couple's children, Daniel, Christy Jnr and Sinead, were mentioned, as was Jean's long-time partner Harry Mallon.

However, while there was no sign of Christy Snr, some of his closest criminal associates travelled from afar to pay their respects as armed detectives discreetly monitored proceedings.

Daniel Kinahan read an emotional letter on behalf of his sister, Sinead.

He and Christy Jnr currently live in Spain with their father while they are under investigation, having previously been arrested by authorities there for their multi-million euro crime empire.

But both sons travelled home in recent weeks to be at their mother's bedside as her health worsened.

Jean Boylan was never involved in crime and was said to be very upset that her sons had followed in their father's footsteps.

“Ma, I really don't know where to start, but first of all I'd like to say that you meant everything to me and you always have been there for me and done everything for me too,” said Daniel on behalf of his sister.

“I now need to fend for myself ma, and I will do. I will make you proud, because ma, you made me proud all of the time.

“All you did was think of others, worry for them and support them, and be their rock.

“You also were the person who would sacrifice yourself for your family. You called me your baby, I still am, and always will be.” There were smiles too, as Sinead remembered times when her mother would make a show of her.

“We had great times, even the embarrassing times when you would dance to the music in town,” said Daniel.

There was only one mention of Christy Snr in the Mass, when Sinead's letter alluded to him as her protector.

“To answer your worries – will I be okay? Yes I will, I'll be better than okay. I will make you proud ma,” she wrote.

“My da will look after me, and your two boys will always be there.

“As you said, my two big brothers will always be there for me and they won't let me down. They never have and they never will.”

While gardai did not make an obvious presence, plain clothes detectives in unmarked cars were seen at a distance monitoring the funeral.

Afterwards, Ms Boylan's remains were taken to Mount Jerome Crematorium. Many of those who attended the funeral went to a function in Dublin city centre last night. Among those who attended were Freddie Thompson's brother, Ritchie, and gang member Liam Byrne from Raleigh Square in Crumlin.

Byrne (36), one of the capital's most feared criminals, has convictions for firearms offences and assault.